Nintendo Outs ‘Flame Red’ 3DS, Walmart Drops Price Early

If you haven’t snatched up a 3DS yet (if not, we wouldn’t blame you, given the dearth of interesting games) Nintendo’s sweetening its upcoming price drop with a ‘Flame Red’ version. If red’s your thing—as opposed to “Aqua Blue” and “Cosmo Black”—Nintendo says it plans to offer the alternative color from September 9th, shortly after the handheld’s price plummets from $250 to $170 this month.

Except wait a second, isn’t that supposed to happen this Friday, August 12th? That’s what Nintendo’s said, you know, all official-like.

But according to reports (and pictures of actual sales receipts), it seems some stores are selling the system at the new price already. Like Walmart, where you can reportedly get it for $169.96. (I know, does anyone seriously choose to buy, or not to buy, based on the cheap pennies discount gimmick?)

If Walmart’s not your speed (or for some inexplicable reason, nowhere near you) it sounds like some stores may be price-matching, though reports of successful purchases are mixed. If you want the $170 price early, it sounds like Walmart’s the safe bet.

The lure to buy early instead of just waiting a few more days? Getting the new system for cheap and getting access to Nintendo’s coveted “Ambassador Program.” That’s Nintendo’s mea culpa for gamers who already bought the system for $250, and it’s a pretty slick deal: 10 original Nintendo Entertainment System and 10 Game Boy Advance games, gratis, when Nintendo makes them available for download from its online store, come September 1st. The only catch: you have to register via your 3DS by the end of August 11th (tomorrow).

Those waiting for the August 12th $170 price break had theoretically been shut out, and it sounds like they just got a 24 hours-plus reprieve.